Remote call-in multiple recorder switching system



June 27, 1967 F. C.QB OLICK, JR 3,328,536

I REMOTE CALL-IN MULTIPLE RECORDER SWITCHING SYSTEM Filed March 30, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 goal:

' INVENTOR fied C Bo/icKJ "-7 by: aned/ 1W "ATTORNEYS J n 1967 F. c. BOLICK, JR

REMOTE CALLr'IN MULTIPLE RECORDER SWITCHING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 50, 1966 United States Patent 3,328,536 REMOTE CALL-IN MULTIPLE RECORDER SWITCHING SYSTEM Fred C. Bolick, Jr., Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Lanier Electronics Laboratory, llnc., Atlanta, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Mar. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 538,836 Claims. (Cl. 179-1001) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE What is disclosed herein is a recording station for use in selecting and operating one of a plurality of recordingreproducing machines. The recording station provides for selection among the recording-reproducing machines in a predetermined sequence with the recording-reproducing machine selected being the first idle recording-reproducing machine in the sequence. The recording station includes a switching means having a plurality of sequential positions through which the switching means is moved by a positioning means and each of which serves to provide an operative connection between the recording station and one of the plurality of recording-reproducing machines. The recording station also includes a retaining means which serves to retain the switching means against movement by the positioning means in a sequential position that provides an operative connection to an idle recordingreproducing machine. The retaining means is responsive in its operation to a selecting means which is in return responsive to the operating conditions of the plurality of recording-reproducing machines. A disabling means is provided for preventing the recording station from influencing an operating recording-reproducing machine as the switching means passes through a sequential position to a subsequent sequential position.

This invention relates to a recording station for use with a recording-reproducing machine and more particularly to a recording station for use with a plurality of recording-reproducing machines.

The relatively high cost of recording-reproducing machines for recording and subsequently transcribing information has resulted in the use of systems having a plurality of recording stations operatively connected to -a plurality of recording-reproducing machines. Such a system permits each recording-reproducing machine to be shared on a time basis by a plurality of recording stations while permitting the availability of a recording-reproducing machine to each recording station to be insured by providing a plurality of recording-reproducing machines for use by each recording station.

A difficulty with prior art systems having a plurality of recording stations and a plurality of recording-reproducing machines has been a tendency to overload one of the recording-reproducing machines because of an inherent preference for this recording-reproducing machine by the recording stations in the system. Another difliculty with such prior art systems has been a tendency for the operation of the recording stations to interfere with each other as the recording stations attempt to select idle recording-reproducing machines.

The invention disclosed herein overcomes these and other difficulties encountered with such prior art systems in that it provides a recording station which will select the first available idle recording-reproducing machine from a plurality of recording-reproducing machines without interfering with the operation of any other recordingreproducing machine and in that its order of preference for the recording-reproducing machines in a plurality of "ice recording-reproducing machines may be conveniently established to be the same as or different from that of any other recording station in the system.

Moreover, the invention provides these improvements in a manner which prevents them from being compromised by the improper use of the recording station. In addition, these improvements are provided by a recording station which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which takes a relatively small space for its installation and use.

These improvements in a recording station are provided by a recording station comprising a switching means having a plurality of operative positions in each of which the recording station is operatively connected to a control circuit in one of a plurality of recording-reproducing machines, positioning means for positioning the switching means in sequence in each of the plurality of operative positions, retaining means for retaining the switching means in each of the plurality of operative positions, selecting means for rendering the retaining means inoperative to retain the switching means in an operative position when the recording-reproducing machine to which the recording station would be operatively connected in that operative position is already in use, and disabling means for preventing the operation of a recording-reproducing machine by the recording station when the retaining means is rendered inoperative.

Moreover, the invention provides for the retaining of the switching means in one of its plurality of operative positions by one motion of the switching means and for the removal or release of the switching means from this operative position by another motion of the switching means so as to insure that the recording station does not inadvertently release a recording-reproducing machine once the machine has been selected. In addition, the particular recording-reproducing machine operatively connected to the recording station in each operative position of the switching means may be readily and conveniently varied to change the order in which the recording station attempts to establish an operative connection with a plurality of recording-reproducing machines.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention positioned within a cradle housing shown in section and supporting a handset;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of that embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 as seen when removed from the cradle housing;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the switching means in that embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 with a portion of the movable switch member cut away in order to more clearly show the stationary switch member;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the retaining means in that embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the invention disclosed herein operatively arranged with three recordingreproducing machines.

These figures and the following detailed description disclose a specific embodiment of the invention but the invention is not limited to the details disclosed since it may be embodied in other equivalent forms.

The invention disclosed herein is best understood as a recording station 10 comprising a switching means 11 having one or more operative positions at each of which the recording station 10 is operatively connected to a recording-reproducing machine, a positioning means 12 for positioning the switching means 11 in sequence in its operative positions, a retaining means 13 for retaining the switching means 11 in each operative position, a selecting means 14 for rendering the retaining means 13 inoperative to retain the switching means 11 in an operative position when the recording-reproducing machine to which the recording station would be connected in that operative position is already in use, and a disabling means 15 for preventing the operation of a recording-reproducing machine by the recording station 10 whenever the retaining means 13 is rendered inoperative by the selecting means 14.

In that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the switching means 11 includes a first or stationary switch member 16 and a second or movable switch member 17.

The stationary switch member 16 and the movable switch member 17 are both boards of conventional nonconducting material and the stationary switch member 16 is fixedly positioned in a substantially vertical position on i the floor 19 of a cradle housing 20. The movable switch member 17 is pivotably mounted on the stationary switch member 16 by a pin 21 which extends through one end of the movable switch member 17 and through the stationary switch member 16. It will be understood that this arrangement places the stationary switch member 16 and the movable switch member 17 substantially parallel and adjacent to each other and provides for pivotal motion of the movable switch member 17 relative to the stationary switch member 16.

That edge 22 of the movable switch member 17 which is most remote from the pin 21 defines an are which has its center of curvature at the pin 21 and the edge 22 has a plurality of downwardly inclined slots 23a, 23b, and 230 formed in it. The stationary switch member 16 and the movable switch member 17 carry a plurality of electrical contact elements such as electrical contact elements 100, 101, 200a, and 201a whosepositions relative to the positions of the slots 23a, 23b, and 230 and to each other will be understood when the operation of that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is considered below.

In that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the positioning means 12 includes a spring 23 extending between a peg 24 positioned on the movable switch member 17 below the pin 21 and a post 25 extending upwardly from the floor 19 of the cradle housing 20 adjacent the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17. This positioning of the spring 23 causes the spring 23 to pivot the movable switch member 17 relative to the stationary switch member 16 about the pin 21 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1.

Resisting the pivoting of the movable switch member 17 relative to the stationary switch member 16 by the spring 23 is a stop pin 27 which engages the upper edge 28 of the movable switch member 17. The stop pin 27 extends from a lever 29 which is pivotably attached at one end to a bracket 30 by a hinge pin 31 and is engaged at the opposite end by a slidable post 32. The bracket 30 is fixedly mounted on the bottom 19 of the cradle housing 20 between the pin 21 and the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17 and the slidable post 32 extends upwardly through the cradle housing 20 so that I its upper end is engaged by a handset 33 positioned on the cradle housing 20'.

It will now be understood that when the handset 33 is placed in position on the cradle housing 20, the slidable post 32 is moved downwardly to pivot the lever 29 downwardly about the hinge pin 31 and that as a result, the stop pin 27 engages the upper edge 28 of the movable switch member 17 and pivots the movable switch member 17 about the pin 21 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. Thus, the handset 33 in position on the cradle housing 20 prevents pivotal motion of the movable switch member 17 relative to the stationary switch member 16 by the spring 23 and removal of the handset 33 from the cradle housing 20 results in pivotal motion of the movable switch member 17 relative to the stationary switch member 16 about the pin 21 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1.

In that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the retaining means 13 includes a metal hinged plate 35 having its lower end mounted on the floor 19 of the cradle housing 20 by a bracket 36 for pivotal motion toward and away from the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17. At its upper end, the hinged plate 35 carries a holding means or hook 37 which extends from the hinge plate 35 toward the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17. It will be understood that when the hinged plate 35 is pivoted toward the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17, the hook 37 will enter a slot 23a, 23b, or 230 in the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17 as the movable switch member 17 pivots relative to the stationary switch member 16 about the pin 21 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1.

The hinged plate 35 is pivotably urged toward the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17 by a resilient spring member 38 positioned at the bracket 36 with one end engaging the floor 19 of the cradle housing 20 and its other end engaging that side of the hinged plate 35 which is opposite the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17. Thus, the spring member 38 serves to cause the retaining means 13 to be operative to engage the movable switch member 17 with the hook 37 so that the hook 37 enters a slot 23a, 23b, or 230 and retains the movable switch member 17 against pivotal motion relative to the stationary switch member 16 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1.

The selecting means 14 in that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is a solenoid 106 positioned on the floor 19 of the cradle housing 20 adjacent the hinged plate 35 so that when the solenoid is energized it will pivot the metal hinged plate 35 away from the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17 into an inoperative position at which the hook 37 will not engage or enter a' slot 23a, 23b, or 230 in the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17. Thus, energizing of the solenoid 106 serves to render the retaining means 13 inoperative to retain the movable switch member 17 in a fixed position relative to the stationary switch member 16. The manner in which the solenoid 106 is selectively energized and other features of the selecting means 14 will be understood when the operation of that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is considered below.

In that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the disabling means 15 includes a leaf switch positioned in the cradle housing 20 adjacent the hinged plate 35 so that the contact leaves 105' and 105 of the leaf switch 105 are urged apart by an insulated bumper 40 mounted on the hinged plate 35 when the hinged plate 35 is moved away from the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17 by energizing the solenoid 106. The leaf switch 105 is conventional leaf switch in which the contact leaves 105' and 105" are resiliently urged together to provide a normally closed switch. Thus, it will be understood that when the contact leaves 105 and 105" are urged apart by the bumper 40, the leaf switch 105 IS open and that when the hinged plate 35 pivots toward the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17, the leaves 105' and 105 of the leaf switch 105 move together and the leaf switch 105 is closed. It will also be understood that the leaf switch 105 provides a switch which is open whenever the solenoid 106 of the selecting means 14 is rendering the retaining means 13 inoperative to retain the movable switch member 17 in a fixed position relative to the stationary switch member 16. The manner in which the disabling means 15 serves to prevent the operation of a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, o-r Rc will be understood when the operation of that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is considered below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the movable switch member 17 has a plurality of electrical contacts such as contact elements 100, 101, 102', 103, and 104 mounted thereon. As

shown in FIG. 5, the contact elements 100 and 101 are operatively connected in a circuit at the recording station with the solenoid 106 of the selecting means '14 so that a voltage between the contact elements 100 and 101 serves to energize the solenoid 106. Similarly, the contact elements 101 and 102 are operatively connected in a circuit at the recording station 10 with the leaf switch 105 of the disabling means 15 so that the leaf switch 105 is in any circuit between contacts 101 and 102.

In addition, contact elements 101 and 103 are operatively connected in a circuit at the recording station 10 with a control switch MR which provides for the control at the recording station 10 of a control function such as recording when the appropriate recording control circuit of a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or R is operatively connected between the contact elements 101 and 103. Moreover, the contact elements 101 and 104 are operatively connected in a circuit at the recording station 10 with a control switch MP which provides for the control at the recording station 10 of a control function such as playback when the appropriate playback control circuit of a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or R0 is operatively connected between the contact elements 101 and 104.

Thus, it will be understood that the movable switch member 17 carries a plurality of contact elements 100, 101, 102, 103, and 104 which are operatively connected at the recording station 10 to the solenoid 106, the leaf switch 105, and the function control switches such as the control switches MR and MP. It is by bringing these contact elements 100, 101, 102, 103 and 104 into engagement with contact elements operatively connected to a record-reproducing machine Ra, Ab, or R0 that the recording station 10 provides for the selection and control of a particular recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Re. In that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the recording station 10 is arranged to select one of three recording-reproducing machines Ra, Rb, or Re by providing a plurality of electrical contacts such as contact elements 200, 201, 201', 202, 203, and 204 on the stationary switch member 16 for each recordingreproducing machine Ra, Rb, and Re.

In FIGS. 3 and 5, the numerals designating those contact elements for the recording-reproducing machine Ra carry the suffix at, those contact elements for the recording-reproducing machine Rb carry the sufiix b, and those contact elements for the recording-reproducing machine Rc carry the suflix c. It will be seen from FIG. 3 and schematically from FIG. that the contact elements 200b, 201b, 201b 202b, 203b and 20 1b for the recording-reproducing machine Rb are positioned on the stationary switch member 16 above the contact elements 200a, 201a, 201a, 202a, 203a, and 204a for the recording-reproducing machine Ru and that the contact elements 2000, 201c, 2010, 2020, 2030, and 2040 for the recording-reproducing machine Re are positioned above the contact elements 200b, 201b, 201b', 202b, 203b, and 204b for the recording-reproducing machine Rb. It will also be seen from FIG. 3 that the contact elements 200a, 200b, and 2000 for the recording-reproducing machines Ra, Rb, and R0 respectively are positioned on the stationary switch member 16 to be engaged in sequence by the contact element 100 as the movable switch member 17 pivots upwardly relative to the stationary switch member 16.

Similarly, it will be seen from FIG. 3 that the contacts 201a, 201b, and 2010 are positioned to be engaged in sequence by the contact element 101 and simultaneously with the engaging of the contact elements 200a, 200b, and 2000 respectively by the contact element 100 as the movable switch member 17 pivots upwardly with respect to the stationary switch member 16. In addition, it will be seen from FIG. 3 that the contact elements 202a, 202b, and 202a are positioned to be engaged in sequence by the contact element 102 as the movable switch memher 17 pivots upwardly with respect to the stationary switch member 16 and that the contact elements 201a, 201b, and 201c are sutficiently large in size to provide contact elements 201a, 201b, and 201c which are engaged by the contact element 101 simultaneously with the engaging of the contact elements 202a, 202b, and 2020 respectively by the contact element 102 and after the contact element is no longer engaging a contact element 200a, 200b, or 2000.

Finally, it will be seen from FIGS. 3 and 5 that the contact elements 203a, 20312, and 2030 are positioned on the stationary switch member 16 to be engaged in sequence by the contact element 103 and the contact elements 204a, 204b, and 2040 respectively are positioned to be engaged in sequence by the contact element 104 simultaneously with the engaging of the contact elements 202a, 202b, and 2020 respectively by the contact element 102. Thus, it will be understood that with initial pivotal motion of the movable switch member 17 relative to the stationary switch member 16 from that position of the movable switch member 17 shown in FIG. 1 at which the stationary switch member 17 is held by handset 33 on the cradle housing 20, the contact elements 100 and 101 simultaneously engage the contact elements 200a and 201a and that with subsequent pivotal motion of the movable switch member 17 relative to the stationary switch member 16, the contact element 100 disengages the contact element 200a and the contact elements 102, 103, and 104 simultaneously engage the contact elements 202a, 203a, 204a respectively while the contact element 101 continues to engage the contact element 201a as the contact element 201a. It will be further understood that as pivotal motion of the movable switch member 17 relative to the stationary switch member 16 continues, the contact elements 100, 101, 102, 103 and 104 engage the contact elements 200b, 201b, 2011;, 202b, 203b and 204b in a similar sequential fashion and that as pivotal motion of the movable switch member 17 relative to the stationary switch member 16 further continues, the contact elements 100, 101, 102, 103, and 104 engage the contact elements 200e, 2010, 201a, 2020, 203a and 204C in a similar sequential fashion.

This arrangement of electrical contacts such as the contact elements 100 and 101 on the movable switch member 17 and such as the contact elements 200a, 200b, and 2000 on the stationary switch member 16 provides a switching means 11 having an operative position represented by the dashed line 0A in FIG. 3 at which the contact elements 101, 102, 103, and 104 simultaneously engage the contact elements 201a, 202a, 203a, and 204a respectively, an operative position represented by the dashed line OB in FIG. 3 at which the contact elements 101, 102, 103, and 104 simultaneously engage the contact elements 201b, 202b, 203b, and 204b, and an operative position represented by the dashed line 0C in FIG. 3 at which the contact elements 101, 102, 103, and 104 simultaneously engage the contacts 201c, 2026, 2030 and 2040 respectively. It also provides a switching means 11 having a selecting position represented by the dashed line SA in FIG. 3 at which the contact elements 100 and 101 simultaneously engage the contact elements 200a and 201a respectively, a selecting position represented by the dashed line OB in FIG. 3 at which the contact elements 100 and 101 simultaneously engage the contact elements 200b and 2011) respectively, and a selecting position represented by the dashed line OC in FIG. 3 at which the contact elements 100 and 101 simultaneously engage the contact elements 200a and 2010 respectively. Thus, with the removal of the handset 33 from the cradle housing 20', the movable switch member 17 pivots with respect to the stationary switch member 16 so as to place the switching means 11 sequentially in those operative and selecting positions represented by the lines SA, OA, SB, OB, SC, and OC.

7 The slot 23a in the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17 is positioned to engage the hook 37 of the retaining means 13 as the movable switch member 17 pivots with respect to the stationary switch member 16 and when the switching means 11 is substantially in that selecting position represented by the dashed line SA. Once the slot 23a engages the hook 37, the angular disposition and depth of the slot 23 serves to stop pivotal motion of the movable switch member 17 when the switching means 11 is in that operative position represented by the dashed line OA in FIG. 3. Similarly, the slot 23b is positioned to engage the hook 37 when the switching means 11 is substantially in that selecting position represented by the dashed line SB in FIG. 3 and to stop pivoting of the movable switch member 17 when the switching means 11 is in that operative position represented by the dashed line OB in FIG. 3. The slot 230 is positioned to engage the hook 37 when the switching means 11 is substantially in that selecting position represented by the dashed line SC in FIG. 3 and to stop pivotal motion of the movable switch member 17 when the switching means 11 is in that operative position represented by the dashed line OC in FIG. 3.

It will be understood that when the switching means 11 is in an operative position represented by the dashed lines A, OB, and OC in FIG. 3, the hook 37 is at the lower end of a downwardly inclined slot 23a, 23b, or 230, and that the hook 37 of the retaining means 13 serves to firmly hold the switching means 11 in an operative position represented by a dashed line OA, OB, OC in FIG. 3 from which the switching means 11 can be moved only by the movable switch member 17 being rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 with down- Ward motion of the slidable post 32. Thus, the switching means 11 cannot be inadvertently moved from an operative position represented by a dashed line OA, OB or OC in FIG. 3. However, it will also be understood that the spring 23 of the positioning means 12 serves to pivot the movable switch member 17 of the switching means 11 into and through a plurality of operating positions represented by the dashed lines OA, OB, and DC in FIG. 3 at each of which the retaining means 13 will engage and hold the movable switch member 17 only if the retaining means 13 has not been rendered inoperative by the selecting means 14.

In that embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the contact elements 201a and 202a are operatively in the seizure circuit of the recording-reproducing machine Ra, the contact elements 201a and 203a are operatively in the recording control circuit of the recording-reproducing machine Ra, and the contact elements 201a and 204a are operatively in the playback control circuit of the recording-reproducing machine Ra. Similarly, the contact elements 2011), 202b, 203b, and 204b are in similar control circuits of the recording-reproducing machine Bb and the contact elements 201a, 2020, 203a, and 204s are in similar control circuits of the recordingareproducing machine Rc. As a result, when the switching means 11 is in that operative position represented by a dashed line OA, OB, or OC in FIG. 3, the leaf switch 105 is operatively connected to the seizure circuit of a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or R0, the control switch MR is operatively connected to the recording control circuit of a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or R0, and the control switch MP is operatively connected to the playback control circuit of a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb or R0.

The seizure circuits, the recording control circuits, and the playback control circuits are not shown in detail in FIG. since they are only representative of control circuits which will be known and understood by those skilled in the art who will serve also understand that completing of a seizure circuit may serve to render a recording reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or R0 operative. Thus, with the leaf spring 105 in its normally closed position to that of the seizure circuit of the recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Re is completed through the recording station 10, the recording station 10 is operatively connected to and will control a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Rc with the particular recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or R0 depending upon whether the switching means 11 is in that operative position represented by the line OA, OB, or OC.

The recording station 10 is prevented from becoming operatively connected to a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Rc which is already in use by utilizing voltages Va, Vb, and V0 in the recording-reproducing machines Ra, Rb, and Re respectively which are indicative of machine use. The voltages Va, Vb, and V0 may be any voltage of a predetermined character which is present in a conventional recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Rs when the recording-reproducing machine is in use and the voltage Va from the recording-reproducing machine Ra is operatively connected to the contact elements 200a and 201a at the recording station 10, the voltage Vb from the recording-reproducing machine Rb is operatively connected to the. contact elements 20% and 20117 at the recording station 10, and the voltage Vc from the recording-reproducing machine R0 is operatively connected to the contact elements 200C and 2010 at the recording-reproducing machine 10.

Thus, the presence of the voltage Va in the recordingreproducing machine Ra when the switching means 11 is in that selecting position represented by the dashed line SA in FIG. 3 will result in the energizing of the solenoid 106, the presence of the voltage Vb in the recording-reproducing machine Rb when the switching means 11 is in that selecting position represented by the dashed line SB in FIG. 3 will result in the energizing of the solenoid 106, and the presence of the voltage V0 in the recording-reproducing machine Rc when the switching means 11 is in that position represented by the dashed line SC in FIG. 3 will result in the energizing of the solenoid 106. When the solenoid 106 is energized with the switching means 11 in that selecting position represented by the dashed line SA in FIG. 3, the hinged plate 35 is pivoted away from the edge 22 of the movable switch member 17 and the hook 37 does not enter the slot 23a! as the movable switch member 17 pivots with respect to stationary switch member 16.

Similarly, when the solenoid 106 is energized with the switching means 11 in that selecting position represented by the dashed line SB in FIG. 3, the hook 37 does not enter the slot 23b and when the solenoid 106 is energized with the switching means 11 in that selecting position represented by the dashed line SC in FIG. 3, the book 37 does not enter the slot 230. Thus, the presence of a voltage Va, Vb, or V0 in a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Rc renders the retaining means 13 inoperative to engage and hold the switching means 11 in the operatrng position for that recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or R0 represented by a dashed line OA, OB or OC in FIG. 3.

The result of this arrangement is that with the removal of a handset 33 from the cradle housing 20, the movable switch member 17 pivots with respect to the stationary switch member 16 until the absence of a voltage Va, Vb, or Vc at a selecting position of the switching means 11 represented by a dashed line SA, SB or SC in FIG. 3 results in the retaining means 13 being operative to engage and retain the movable switch member 17 in an operative position represented by a dashed line OA, OB, or DC in FIG. 3 or until the movable switch member 17 engages a stop 50 positioned at the upper edge of the stationary switch member 16. It will be understood that the stop 50 is engaged by the movable switch member 17 only if all of the recording-reproducing machines Ra, Rb, and R0 are in use so that the voltages Va, Vb and V0 are all provided.

The arrangement of the switching means 11 is such that the recording station 10 is momentarily connected to each of the plurality of recording-reproducing machines Ra, Rb, and Re in sequence until the retaining means 13 is operative. To insure that the recording station 10 does not momentarily interfere with the operation of a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Re which is already in use, the leaf switch 105 in its open position serves to open all of the circuits in the recording station 10 which are operatively connected to a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or R when the switching means 11 is in an operative position represented by a dashed line 0A, OB or 0C in FIG. 3.

This is accomplished by the placing of the leaf switch 105 in that circuit at this recording station which is connected to the seizure circuit in a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or R0 and by placing a coil L in series with the leaf switch 105 to close normally open switches L1 and L2 in series with the control switches MR and MP respectively only when the coil L is energized through closed leaf switch 105. Thus, when the hinged plate 35 pivots away from the edge 22 of the movable switch member '17 because of the presence of a voltage Va, Vb, or V0 in a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Re and the leaf switch 105 opens, any momentary connection between the recording station 10 and a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Re which occurs in a succeeding operating position of the switching means 11 as represented by a dashed line OA, OB, or DC in FIG. 3 will occur with the leaf switch 105 and the switches L1 and L2 all being open so that inadvertent operation of the control switches MR and MP cannot interfere with the operation of a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or R0 which is already in use.

From the foregoing, it will now be understood that the invention disclosed herein provides a recording station 10 which is momentarily and inoperatively connected in sequence to a plurality of recording-reproducing machines Ra, Rb, and Re and which becomes operatively connected to a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Rc only when that recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Rc is not in use. Moreover, it will be understoodthat the recording station 10 cannot be inadvertently operatively connected to a recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Re which is in use and cannot be inadvertently disconnected from a selected recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Re.

In addition, it will be understood that the recording station 10 disclosed herein provides a predetermined order or sequence in which one of a plurality of recordingreproducing machines Ra, Rb, and Re is selected and that this sequence is readily and conveniently varied by simply changing the manner in which the recording-reproducing machines Ra, Rb, and Re are operatively connected to the recording station 10. It is because of this that the recording station 10 is ideally suited to use in a system in which a plurality of recording stations 10 select an idle recording-reproducing machine Ra, Rb, or Rc from a plurality of recording-reproducing machines Ra, Rb, and Re in different sequences so as to uniformly distribute the use of the recording-reproducing machines Ra, Rb, and Re among the plurality of recording stations 10' while at the same time providing each recording station -10 with an opportunity to use each of the recording-reproducing machines Ra, Rb, and Re. Finally, it will be understood that the recording station 10 disclosed herein is conveniently embodied in embodiments which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which require very little space for their installation and use.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed as invention is:

'1. In a recording station for controlling a recordingreproducing machine having therein a voltage of a pre- 10 determined character when in use and a control circuit, a switching means having an operative position for operatively connecting said control circuit to a control means for controlling said recording-reproducing machine and a selecting position, positioning means for momentarily positioning said switching means in said selecting positions and subsequently in said operative position, normally operative retaining means for retaining said switching means in said operative position, and selecting means responsive to said voltage when said switching means is in said selecting position for rendering said retaining means inoperative when said switching means is subsequently in said operative position.

2. The recording station of claim 1 including a disabling means for rendering said control means inoperative when said retaining means is inoperative.

3. The recording station of claim 1 wherein said switching means has a second operative position for operatively connecting a control circuit in a second recordingreproducing machine to said control means and a second selecting position, said positioning means is arranged for momentarily positioning said switching means in said second selecting position subsequent to said operative position and subsequently in said second operative position, said retaining means is operative to retain said switching means in said second operative position, and said selecting means is responsive to a predetermined voltage from said second recording-reproducing machine when said second recording-reproducing machine is in use and when said switching means is in said second selecting position for rendering said retaining means inoperative when said switching means is subsequently in said second operative position.

4. The recording station of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a first plurality of electrical contacts operatively connected to said voltage, a second plurality of electrical contracts fixedly positioned relative to said first plurality of electrical contacts and operatively connected to said control circuit, a third plurality of electrical contacts movable relative to both said first plurality of electrical contacts and said second plurality of electrical contacts and operatively connected to said selecting means, a fourth plurality of electrical contacts movable with said third plurality of electrical contacts relative to said first plurality of electrical contacts and said second plurality of electrical contacts and operatively connected to said control means, all of said electrical contacts being positioned so that said first plurality of electrical contacts engage said third plurality of electrical contacts When said switching means is in said selecting position and said second plurality of electrical contacts engage said fourth plurality of electrical contacts when said switching means is in said operative position.

5. The recording station of claim 4 wherein said third plurality of electrical contacts includes some of said fourth plurality of electrical contacts.

6. The recording station of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a first switch member and a second switch member movable relative to each other by said positioning means, and said retaining means includes holding means for engaging said first switch member and holding said first switch member and said second switch member in a predetermined position relative to each other.

7. The recording station of claim 6 wherein said holding means engages said first switch member as said first switch member moves in a predetermined direction and disengages said first switch member as said first switch member moves in a second predetermined direction.

-8. The recording station of claim -6 wherein said first switch member includes engaging means for engaging said holding means, said holding means has an engaging position in which it engages said engaging means and an inoperative position in which it does not engage said engaging means, and said selecting means is operative to move said holding means from said engaging position to said inoperative position.

9. The recording station of claim 8 including disabling means responsive to said holding means when said holding means is in said inoperative position for rendering said control means inoperative.

10. In a recording station for controlling each of a plurality of recording-reproducing machines, switching means for operatively connecting a control means for controlling a recording-reproducing machine to one of a plurality of recording reproducing machines when said switching means is in each of a plurality of sequential positions, positioning means for sequentially positioning said switching means in said sequential positions, and retaining means for retaining said switching means in one of said sequential positions as said switching means is being urged by said positioning means into a second of said sequential positions, said retaining means being selectively responsive to the operation of said plurality of recording-reproducing machines so that in said one of said sequential positions said control means is operatively connected by said switching means to a previously idle recording-reproducing machine.

BERNARD KONICK, Primary Examiner,

L. H. HILL, Assistant Examiner,

5/1940 Whitehead 179-.100.1 

10. IN A RECORDING STATION FOR CONTROLLING EACH OF A PLURALITY OF RECORDING-REPRODUCING MACHINES, SWITCHING MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTING A CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING A RECORDING-REPRODUCING MACHINE TO ONE OF A PLURALITY OF RECORDING REPRODUCING MACHINES WHEN SAID SWITCHING MEANS IS IN EACH OF A PLURALITY OF SEQUENTIAL POSITIONS, POSITIONING MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY POSITIONING SAID SWITCHING MEANS IN SAID SEQUENTIAL POSITIONS, AND RETAINING MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID SWITCHING MEANS IN ONE OF SAID SEQUENTIAL POSITIONS AS SAID SWITCHING MEANS IS BEING URGED BY SAID POSITIONING MEANS INTO A SECOND OF SAID SEQUENTIAL POSITIONS, SAID RETAINING MEANS BEING SELECTIVELY RESPONSIVE TO THE OPERATION OF SAID PLURALITY OF RECORDING-REPRODUCING MACHINES SO THAT IN SAID ONE OF SAID SEQUENTIAL POSITIONS SAID CONTROL MEANS IS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BY SAID SWITCHING MEANS TO A PREVIOUSLY IDLE RECORDING-REPRODUCING MACHINE. 